Spinner attachment for shoes



May 28, w53 J. D. MGCORKLE 3,691,643

SPTNNER ATTACHMENT FOR SHOES Filed Nov. 23, 1962 INVENTOR. Q//MM/E o. Mcaeeaej 2X2/MMM @mz gi.: 'l

This invention relates to a novel spinner attachment for shoes.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an eicient, practical, and easily worn device of the kind indicated, which substantially facilitates the execution of the foot-spinning steps of ythe dance known as the twist, and which susbtantially reduces the amount of wear on shoe ysoles and on floor surfaces otherwise incurred, and the danger of sliding on or skidding on the floor.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character indicated above which involves a sole plate, Vakin to and adapted to be worn like the sole plate of a skate, having toe and heel clamping means, and wherein a spinner rotor is mounted to the underside of the sole plate, in the region of the -ball of the foot.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form of the invention is Set forth in detail.

lIn the drawings:

FIGURE l is a side elevation of a twist dancers shoe, showing a device of the present invention secured to the shoe;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan View of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is fa top plan view of the device, with the shoe removed;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical transverse section taken on the line 4 4 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 5 is a lhorizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of lFIGURE 4; and,

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section taken on the line 6 6 of FIGURE l.

Referring in detail `to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the illustrated device, generally designated 10, is shown applied to the sole 1.2 and the heel l1d of a dancers shoe S.

The device 1t) comprises a rigid metal sole plate 16, slightly longer than the combined lengths of the shoe sole 12 and the heel 114, and shaped to the contours thereof. In the area of the heel 14, the sole plate .16 has formed thereon, integrally or otherwise, an upstanding heel cup y18, which conforrnably receives the shoe heel 14, and is preferably of the same material as the sole plate 16. Sections of a strap are fixed, at their lower ends, as indicated at 22, to `the outer sides of the sidewalls of the cup 1S, and extend upwardly and forwardly from the cup, and are adapted yto be adjustably secured together, at their upper ends, as indiacted at 24, so as to embrace the instep of the shoe S, for holding the heel cup 18 to the heel 14. A heel form is secured, as indicated at 27, to the underside of the sole plate 16.

The forward end of the sole plate 16 is forwardly tapered, as indicated -at 26, to `a `toe s-top 28, which is angled forwardly and upwardly, out of the plane of the sole plate 16, yand projects thereabove so as to provide a rearwardly enclosed rear stop surface 30, with which the forward end of the shoe sole 12 is engaged, as shown in FIGURE l. The stop 28 can be of resilient material, if desired, to minimize the danger of kicking injuries.

Adjustable clamp means for the toe region of the sole plate 16, can comprise a pair of arcuate clamping arms 32,

3,091,543v Patented May 28, 1963 extending upwardly and laterally inwardly from the outer ends of horizontal iiat slides 34, which bear upon the upper surface of the sole plate .16, adjacent the side edges thereof. The slides 34 have downwardly extending stop lugs `36, on their laterally inward ends, which engage in transversely spaced, transversely elongated slot 3S, formed in the sole pl-ate 16, which are longitudinally spaced from the toe stop 23. Screws 40 are xed centrally to and extend downwardly from the slides 34 and extend through the yslots 38, and have nuts 42 threaded on their lower ends, against the underside of the sole plate 16. The clamping arms are adjustable, with the nuts 42 backed olf, toward and away from each other, for clarnping `them against the side edges of the shoe sole 1.2, and for freeing the same from the sole. As shown in FIGURE l, the clamping arms 32 are preferably upwardly tapered and inclined rearwardly, out of the plane of the sole plate 16.

A spinner assembly `4dis mounted to the underside of the sole plate 16, Iat a location behind the clamping means, corresponding to the region of the ball of the foot of the wearer of the shoe S, or slightly forwardly therefrom, as indicated in FIGURE l. The spinner rotor assembly 44, as shown in FIGURE 4, comprises a cylindrical stator 46 having a lateral annular ilange 48, at its upper end, flush therewith. The upper end 5l) and the flange 48 are secured -to `the undersurface of the sole plate 16, as by means of screws 52, extending through the sole plate and threaded into the flange 43, as indicated at 54. The stator 46 has a peripheral annular groove 56 around its lower end 58, which serves as a race for relatively small inner ball bearings 6d. The stator is vformed with a vertical axial bore 62, through which is fitted a smooth cylindrical shaft 64, which is -xed to the sole plate 16, in sui-table manner, las indicated at 66, and extends downwardly below the stator.

The assembly 44 further comprises a rotor 68, which comprises a circular inverted pan-shaped rigid metal cap 70 having a flat horizontal top wall 72, and a pendant peripheral Iflange 74. The cap 70 conformably receives the upper end portion 7 6 of a circular pad 78 of resilient and compressible material, such as rubber or rubber-like material, including plastic. The pad 78 is secured in the cap 70, as by means of circumferentially spaced screws Si) extending through the flange '74 and threaded into the upper portion of the pad. The upper portion 76 of the pad 73 is reduced in diameter, relative to the lower end portion 84 of the pad, so as to detine a shoulder 86, upon which the lower edge 88 of the flange 74 is seated. The lower end port-ion 84 has a slight downward taper, las indicated at 90, to a flat horizontal lower end or bottom surface 92.

The cap top wall 72 and the pad 78 are formed with registered holes 94 and 96, respectively, through which the shaft 64 is rotatably received. The hole 96 of the pad opens, at its lower end -t-o 'a socket 98, which opens to the bottom surface 92. The shaft 64 has a reduced diameter, threaded stud 100, on its lower end, within the socket 9S, on which is circumposed a washer 102 with a nut .1&4 beneath the washer, which holds the washer against the bottom of the socket 98.

The upper surface of the cap top wall 72 is formed with an annular groove 198, concentric with the shaft 64, which receives and serves as a lower race for the inner ball bearings 60.

Outer ball bearings 110, substantially larger in diameter than the inner bearings, are engaged in annular grooves 112 and :114, provided in the facing surfaces of the sole plate 16 and the top wall 72 of the cap 70, and concentrically spaced outwardly from the inner bearings.

In operation, the dancer, in order to execute a spinning step, characteristic of the twist, puts the pad 78 of the rotor assembly 44 upon the floor, with the heel,

form 25 slightly elevated out of contact with the oor. The non-skid character of the undersurface or lower end of the pad 78, when in contact with the iioor, prevents slippage of the device, and enables the dancer to safely, eiciently, and easily rotate the foot.

Although there has been shown and described a preferred form of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily confined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure of and in the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated as being Within the scope of the invention as dened by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A spinner attachment for shoes, comprising a rigid sole plate having forward and rear ends, a centered spinner assembly mounted at the underside of the sole plate adjacent the forward end thereof, said spinner assembly comprising a stator lixed to the underside of the sole plate, a rotor disposed below said stator and journaled on said stator, there being cooperating annular grooves formed in the underside of said sole plate and the top side of said rotor, and ball bearings interposed between and engagingly held within said grooves throughout their entire area, said rotor comprising a resilient and compressible pad having a ilat bottom surface for engagement with a dance oor.

l2. A spinner attachment for shoes, comprising a rigid sole plate having forward and rear ends, a centered spinner assembly mounted at the underside of the sole plate adjacent the forward end thereof, said spinner assembly comprising a stator fixed to the underside of the sole plate, and a rotor axially journalled on the stator, said spinner assembly comprising a vertical cylinder having a vertical axial bore, ya shaft iixed to the sole plate and extending downwardly through said bore, on which the rotor is journalled, said stator cylinder having an annular ball bearing race at its lower end, said rotor comprising a cap having a top wall and a pendant peripheral ange, said top wall having Aa ball bearing race, and inner ball bearings engaged in the races, a resilient and compressible pad having an upper end portion xed in the cap and a lower end portion extending below the cap, the cap top wall and the pad being formed with registered holes, rotatably receiving said shaft.

3. A spinner attachment for shoes, comprising a rigid sole plate having forward and rear ends, a centered spinner assembly mounted at the underside of the sole plate adjacent the forward end thereof, said spinner assembly comprising a stator xed to the underside of the sole plate, andV a rotor axially journalled on the stator, said spinner assembly comprising aV vertical cylinder having a vertical axial bore, a shaft xed to the sole plate and extending downwardly through said bore, on which the rotor is journalled, said stator cylinder having an annular ball bearing race at its lower end, said rotor comprising ya cap having a top wall and a pendant peripheral flange, said top wall having a ball bearing race, and inner ball bearings engaged in the races, a resilient and compressible pad having an upper end portion iixed in the cap and a lower end portion extending below the cap, the cap top wall and the pad being formed with registered holes rotatably receiving said shaft, said sole plate and said top wall having registered outer ball bearing races spaced concentrically and outwardly from the inner ball bearings, and outer ball bearings engaged in the outer races.

4. A Aspinner :attachment for shoes, comprising a rigid sole plate having fonward and rear ends, ay centered spinner assembly mounted at the underside of the sole plate adjacent the forward end thereof, said spinner assembly comprising a stator fixed to the underside of the sole plate, anda rotor axially journalled on the stator, said spinner -assembly comprising a vertical cylinder having a vertical axial bore, a shaft fixed to the sole plate and extending downwardly through said bore, on which the rotor is journalled, said stator'cylinder-having an annular ball bearing race at its lower end, said rotor comprising a cap having a top wall and a pendant peripheral ange, said top wall having a ball bearing race, and inner ball bearings engaged in the races, a resilient and compressible pad having an upper end portion fixed in the cap and a lower end portion extending below the cap, the cap top wall and the pad being formed with registered holes rotatably receiving said shaft, said sole plate and said top wall having registered outer ball bearing races spaced concentrically and out- `w-ardly from the inner ball bearings, and outer ball bearings engaged in the outer races, said pad being formed with an axial enlarged diameter socket opening to the lower end of the pad, with which said bore opens, said shaft having a reduced diameter stud on its lower end located within the socket, a washer circumposed on the stud and engaged with the bottom of the socket, and a nut threaded on the stud against the undersurface of the washer.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,204,796 Lockwood Nov. 14, 1916 '1,564,676 vHopkins Dec. 8, 1925 2,173,969 Klaff Sept. 26, 1939 2,525,308 McDonnell Oct. 10, 1950 2,671,971 Garretson Mar. 16, 1954 

1. A SPINNER ATTACHMENT FOR SHOES, COMPRISING A RIGID SOLE PLATE HAVING FORWARD AND REAR ENDS, A CENTERED SPINNER ASSEMBLY MOUNTED AT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE SOLE PLATE ADJACENT THE FORWARD END THEREOF, SAID SPINNER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A STATOR FIXED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE SOLE PLATE, A ROTOR DISPOSED BELOW SAID STATOR AND JOURNALED ON SAID STATOR, THERE BEING COOPERATING ANNULAR GROOVES FORMED IN THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID SOLE PLATE AND THE TOP SIDE OF SAID ROTOR, AND BALL BEARINGS INTERPOSED BETWEEN AND ENGAGINGLY HELD WITHIN SAID GROOVES THROUGHOUT THEIR ENTIRE AREA, SAID ROTOR COMPRISING A RESILIENT AND COMPRESSIBLE PAD HAVING A FLAT BOTTOM SURFACE FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH A DANCE FLOOR. 